Multiple switch and multiple bulb electric lantern



P. A. STARK 2,599,419

MULTIPLE SWITCH AND MULTIPLE BULB ELECTRIC LANTERN June 3, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed July 29, 1949 June 3, 1952 P. A. STARK 2,599,419

MULTIPLE SWITCH AND MULTIPLE BULB ELECTRIC LANTERN 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 II 6m 57 Filed July 29, 1949 5 Zmneutor Gttomegs.

Patented June 3, 1952 STATES MULTIPLE SWITCH AND MULTIPLE BULB ELECTRIC LANTERN Application July 29, 1949, Serial No. 107,453

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in elec tric lanterns and more particularly electric lanterns having a casing adapted to contain a battery cell and means for supporting a plurality of incandescent lamp bulbs so that they may be selectively placed in circuit with the cell.

My lantern is particularly adapted for use by railroad. employees. Heretofore in lanterns of this type a switch has not been freely accessible from either side of the handle of the lantern, and it has been necessary to turn the lantern so the hand may freely engage the operating switch.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an electric lantern of this type wherein the operator may operate the lantern with one hand and the switch be readily available to the finger of the user from either side of the handle. In other words, the switch is provided on the respective sides of the lantern adjacent the handle member so that it is freely accessible to the user at all times.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a battery cell in a casing so that the positive and negative contact will withstand the usual strains and shocks of usage without liability of being broken or damaged; to provide a lantern of this character having a revolving plate with contact points thereon adapted to engage the contact points leading to the bulbs of the lantern upon manipulation of the switches to either the right or left; to provide a device of this character having novel means for locking the switches in operative position for opening or closing the battery circuit; to provide novel means for connecting the lamp bulbs to the battery circuit, to provide a handle pivoted on each side of the casing; and to provide a device of this character simple, economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention showing the hand of the operator in contact with the switch mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side view of my device.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the device.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device showing the parts in disassembled relation.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line 6-6, Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is an elevational view particularly illustrating the revolving switch plate with the contact points to the battery cell.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the collar or cap plate particularly illustrating the contact points to the incandescent bulb and the positive point of contact to the battery cell.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a modified form of my invention particularly illustrating the collar or cap plate and contact points for acne bulb lantern. v

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the modified form of the invention.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of one of the switch members adapted for use in my device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings.

l designates a lantern embodying the features of my invention comprising a cylindrical side wall 2 of a casing adapted to house a battery cell 3 and having an open top 4 externally threaded as indicated at 5 adapted to receive an internally threaded cap 6.

The lower end of the cylindrical body member 2 is oiiset as indicated at I (Fig. 2) and extends dowwnardly and is offset again as indicated at 8. The offset portion 8 is provided with a depending boss 9 having a bottom ID. The bottom [0 is provided with an opening I l offset from the center of the bottom portion adapted to receive an internally threaded sleeve l2 having an offset portion [3 adapted to be pressed into the opening H and be rigidly retained therein for receiving an incandescent bulb Ill. The bottom ll] of the boss 9 is also provided with a coneshaped recess I5 having a reflector surface 13 terminating in an opening I! having a boss 18 internally threaded and adapted to receive an incandescent bulb [9.

The two offset portions 8 and 9 of the cylindrical body portion form a substantially horizontal flange portion 20 inside of the body member 2. Adapted to engage upon this horizontal flanged surface is a flat plate 2! having a central substantially cylindrical opening 22 and has its respective ends cut to form substantially straight edges 23. The plate 2| acts as a bearing surface for a contact plate 24 having a substantially cylindrical opening 25 with a depending flange forming a boss 26 adapted to engage in the opening 22 of the plate 2|. The contact plate is provided with a plurality of depressed portions 21 forming lugs or bearing points 28 adapted to engage on the plate 2| to allow free rotary movement of the respective plates. A piece of non-conductive material 29 is rigidly secured to the rotating conductor plate 24 by rivets or the like 30 and secured to the non-conductive piece 29 by rivets 01' the like 3| is a contact member 32 having prongs 33 and 34 forming contact points for a purpose later described. The plate 24 is also provided with struck out portions forming loops 35 and 36 on the upper side of the plate 24 to provide keepers for switches 31 and 38 on the respective sides of the lantern as will later appear.

A cap plate 39 substantially cylindrical in shape having an oiiset depending flange 49 around the periphery thereof is adapted to engage over the rotating contact plate 24 and the flanged edge engages on the plate 2|. The cap 39 has a closed top 4| to the inside of which a substantially circular non-conductive piece of material 42 is secured by rivets 43. Contact members 44 and 45 are also secured to the piece of non-conductive material 42 by rivets or the like 46 and secured to the non-conductive piece of material between said contacts 44 and 45 is a contact member 41 by rivets or the like 48. The cap 39, rotating plate 24 and plate 2| are preferably made of brass or other suitable material as well as the contact points referred to. The depending flange 49 is provided with cut out portions 49 and 59 also for a purpose later described. The top 4| of the cap 39 is provided in substantially the center thereof with a contact point for the batteiy 3 comprising a pin or the like having a metallic washer 52 spaced from the top 4| of the cap 39 by a non-conductive washer 53.

The battery cell 3 is provided in the bottom thereof with a cone-shape coil spring 54 having its lower end adapted to engage the pin 5| and the lower end of the cell is also provided with a metallic arm 55 having its free end adapted to engage against the top of the cap member 39.

The cap 6 for the cylindrical body member 2 is tapered inwardly as indicated at 56 and 51, the tapered portion 5'! engaging against the top of the battery 3 to hold the battery in place when the cap is screw threadedly attached to the open top of the housing as indicated at 58. The upstanding boss 59 of the cap is provided on its inner side with a spring 69 secured to the center of the cap by a rivet or the like 6| having loops on the respective ends adapted to retain extra bulbs as indicated at 62 (Fig. 4) if desired.

A handle 63 preferably made from a non-conductive material is provided for the larnternand is of U-shape and has attached to its respective ends tubular members 64 and 65 having cylindrical openings or ears 66 adapted to engage over cylindrical bosses 61 and 68, the bosses having lateral extensions forming brackets 69' and secured to the respective sides of the cylindrical body member by rivets or the like I I. The bosses 61 and 68 have their outer edges turned inwardly as indicated at 12 and are centrally bored, the inturned portion being provided with a notch as indicated at 13 adapted to receive a lug 74 of a washer adapted to engage in the inner face of the inturned portion of the bosses. Adapted to be pressed into openings of the bosses are offset portions 16 of sleeves 11. The sleeves are internally threaded and adapted to receive the threaded shank T8 of a set screw or the like 19 to secure the respective ends of the handle members to the bosses 61 and 53. A washer 80 is provided between the head al and the end of the tubular member of the handle, the handle thus being pivotally mounted on the bosses by the rounded bearing surfaces of the ends of the handle and the bosses. The internally threaded sleeves l1 24 with the boss part of the contact plate downwardly and the cap plate 39 placed thereover with the depending peripheral flange 40 extending around the rotating plate 24 and the peripheral edges engaging on the plate 2|. The contact member 44 has its inner end turned laterally and twisted slightly as indicated at 32 (Fig. 4), and then turned laterally forming a contact point 83 to engage against the inner end of the incandescent bulb 4 as best illustrated in Fig. 6. The contact arm 45 has its inner end also turned laterally and inwardly over itself to form a contact point 84 and engage the bulb H; as best illustrated in Fig. 6.

The contact points 83 and 84 of cap 39 are inserted through the openings 26 and 22 of the plates 24 and 2| respectively so that they will engage the incandescent bulbs as just above described.

When the parts are assembled together as just above described the parts thus assembled are placed in the cylindrical casing with the plate 2| downwardly or toward the closed end of the casing. The ofiset portion 8 in the casing provides a plane surface '85 which is provided on opposite sides with recesses 85 and 81 provided with slots or openings 88 adapted to receive the switches 31 and 33. The switches 31 and 38 have one end turned outwardly forming loops 89 adapted to be contacted by the fingers of the hand as illustrated in Fig. 1 for moving the switch as later described.

The shanks of the switches are angled as indidicated at 99 and 9| to conform to the oifset and slightly tapered portion 92 of the casing. The straight portions 93 of the shank engage in the recess portions 81 and 88 of the plane surface 85 of the casing. The shanks of the switches are turned laterally inwardly as indicated at 94 and have their ends pointed slightly as indicated at 95. When the assembly of the cap 39 and plates 24 and 2| are placed within the casing, the laterally turned portions 94 are inserted in the openings 88 of the casing and engage in the loops or keepers 35 and 36 of the plate 24. When the switches are inserted in place as above described, the assembly of the plates 2| and 24 and cap 39 will be held within the casing.

A cage or the like 96 is provided for protection of the bulbs l4 and I9 which comprises a lower wire 91 substantially circular in cross section and to which are secured a plurality of arms 98 having one end engaging the wire 9'! and their opposite ends turned laterally and engaging in a loop 99 having a depending skirt I00 adapted to engage the plane surface 85 of the offset portion of the casing or body member 2. The skirt Hill and loop 99 when thus in place engage over the shank portion 93 of the switches 31 and 38 to retain the switches in place and allow them to be moved laterally within the recess portions 86 and 81 of the casing, the shoulders of the recess portions forming stops for the switches. The plane surface of the casing is provided with a plurality of spaced threaded openings adapted to receive threaded screws or the like |0| extending y through openings in the skirt portion of the case member to retain the cage on the body of the lantern.

The rotating contact plate 24 has straight sides as indicated at I02 and I03 and the side opposite of the contact members 33 and 34 is provided with upstruck portions I04 and I05 providing ribs adapted to be engaged by friction contact of a spring arm I secured to the top 4| of the cap plate 39 by a rivet or the like I!" (Fig. 8). The outer end of the spring arm is curved as indicated at I08 for engaging the space between or outside of the ribs when the plate 24 is rotated as will later be described.

In operation of a device constructed and assembled as described, it will be apparent that the contact points 03 and 84 on the cap plate 39 will engage the contact points of the bulbs I4 and I9 at all times. When the switches 31 and 38 are in center position the curved or upturned portion I08 of the spring arm I06 will engage in the recess between the ribs I04 and I and frictionally retain the rotating plate 24 in deenergized position. Both of the contact points 33 and 34 on the plates engage the contact plate 41 between the contact arms 44 and 45. With the lantern in horizontal position as indicated in Fig. l, turning of the switch 31 to the left or in clockwise direction viewed from forward position will cause the contact arm 34 of the contact plate 24 to engage the contact point 46 of contact arm 45. The contact point 33 will engage the contact member 41 to complete the circuit to the cell and to the bulb I 0 thus energizing that light, which, with the refleeting surface, will centralize the beam from the light. Turning of the switch to the left or in anti-clockwise direction will cause the contact point 33 of the plate 24 to contact the contact arm 44 and the contact arm 34 to contact central contact member 41 thus completing the circuit to the cell and to the bulb I4 through contact point 83 energizing that light which throws a diffused beam of light and deenergizing the light I9.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10, only one bulb I 09 is utilized and that is substantially in the center of the device. The contact plates 2I and 24 are substantially similar in this form of the device, but the cap plate 39 is difierent. In Fig. 9 the cap plate 39 has a U-shaped contact member IIO having arms III and H2 with a contact plate II3 therebetween secured to the non-conductive material II4 of the top of the plates by rivets or the like as shown in the preferred form of the invention. The U-shaped contact member is provided with laterally turned arms II 5 and II 6 with a cross bar II I with a laterally turned lug forming a contact point II8.

In use of this form of the invention, movement of the switches 31 or 38 in either direction will cause the contact members 33 and 34 to alternately contact the plates III and H3 or H2 and H3 to cause the circuit to be completed between the contact point II8 which engages the center bulb I09 at all times to complete the circuit to the cell. When both of the arms 33 and 34 engage the center plate II3, the circuit will not be complete, and the bulb deenergized.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved lantern having switches on either side in close proximity to the handle members which may be grasped by the hand of the user and the fingers utilized to operate the switch either to the right or left to ener- 6 gize the respective bulbs in the lantern as desired, tor the one bulb as shown in the modified form of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1'. In an electric lantern including a casing having one end converging forming a substantially horizontal portion .in said casing and terminating in a boss having a closed bottom provided with openings for receiving incandescent bulbs and a battery "cell in said casing, a bearing plate engaging the substantially horizontal portion of the casing and having a central aperture therein, a second plate rotatably engaged with the bearing plate and having an aperture aligning with the central aperture of the bearing plate, spaced resilient contact arms on and electrically insulated from the second plate and extending therefrom oppositely to the bearing plate, a cap plate having electrical engagement with one of the battery terminals, means securing the cap plate to the casing, a contact member on and insulated from the cap plate and having a portion extending therethrough and electrically engaging the other battery terminal, contacts on and insulated from the "cap plate on opposite sides of and spaced from the contact member and having portions extending through the apertures in the bearing plate and second plate, one of said contact portions having electrical engagement with one of the incandescent bulbs and the other contact portions having electrical engagement with the other bulb, said second plate having diametrically opposed sockets, said casing having slots on opposite sides substantially aligned with said sockets, and switch levers along the exterior of the casing having inturned portions extending through and laterally movable in the slots and engaging in the sockets for rotating the second plate to engage one of the spaced resilient contact arms thereon with the contact member and the other contact arm with one of the contacts on the cap plate for energizing one of the bulbs.

2. In an electric lantern including a casing having an open top and its opposite end converging forming a substantially horizontal portion in said casing and terminating in a boss having a closed bottom provided with openings for receiving incandescent bulbs and a battery cell in said casing, a bearing plate engaging the substantially horizontal portion of the casing and having a central aperture therein, a second plate rotatably engaged with the bearing plate and having an aperture aligning with the central aperture of the bearing plate, spaced resilient contact arms on and electrically insulated from the second plate and extending therefrom oppositely to the bearing plate, a cap plate having a peripheral depending flange surrounding the second plate and having electrical engagement with one of the battery terminals, means securing the capplate to the casing, a contact member on and insulated from the cap plate and having a portion extending therethrough and electrically engaging the other battery terminal, contacts on and insulated from the cap plate on opposite sides of and spaced from the contact member and having portions extending through the apertures in the bearing plate and second plate, one of said contact portions having electrical engagement with one of the incandescent bulbs and the other contact portions having electrical engagement with the other bulb, said second plate having diametrically opposed sockets, said casing having slots on'opposite sides substantially aligned with said sockets, switch levers along the exterior of the casing having inturned portions extending through and laterally movable in the slots and engaging in the sockets for rotating the second plate to engage one of the spaced resilient contact arms thereon with the contact member and the other contact arm with one of the contacts on the cap plate, studs on opposite sides of the casing substantially midway thereof and adjacent the respective switch levers, and a U-shaped handle pivoted on said studs whereby the switch levers may be operated with the finger of the hand while holding the handle without turning the lantern for rotating the second plate to energize the incandescent bulbs.

3. In an electric lantern including a casing having an open top and its opposite end converging forming a substantially horizontal portion in said casing and terminating in a boss having a closed bottom provided with openings for receiving incandescent bulbs and a battery cell in said casing, a bearing plate engaging the substantially horizontal portion of the casing and having a central circular aperture therein, a second plate rotatably engaged with the bearing plate and having a central aperture and a depending cylindrical flange extending through and rotatably engaging in the central aperture of the bearing plate, spaced resilient contact arms on and electrically insulated from the second plate and extending therefrom oppositely to the bearing plate, a cap plate having a peripheral depending flange surrounding the second plate and having electrical engagement with one of the battery terminals, means securing the cap plate to the casing, a contact member on the cap plate and having a portion extending therethrough and electrically engaging the other battery terminal, means electrically insulating the contact member from the cap plate, contacts on and insulated from the cap plate on opposite sides of and spaced from the contact member and having portions extending through the apertures in the bearing plate and second plate, one of said contact portions having electrical engagement with one of the incandescent bulbs and the other contact portion having electrical engagement with the other bulb, said second plate having diametrically opposed sockets, said depending fiange of the cap plate and easing having registering slots on opposite sides substantially aligned with said sockets, switch levers along the exterior of the casing having inturned portions substantially narrower than and extending through the slots and engaging in the sockets for rotating the second plate to engage one of the spaced resilient contact arms thereon with the contact member and the other contact arm with one of the contacts on the cap plate, inter-engaging resilient means and lugs on the second plate and cap member for retaining the second plate in selected position, studs on opposite sides of the casing substantially midway thereof and adjacent the respective switch levers, and a U-shaped handle pivoted on said studs whereby the switch levers may be operated with the finger of the hand while holding the handle without turning the lantern for rotating the second plate to energize the incandescent bulbs.

PHILLIP A. STARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

